Washing-machine



F. BRUEGGEMAN. WASHING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED MAY 29. I920.

Patented Feb. 1, 1921.

T N N E E 0 vn T Z M D ,Y

llltll-lllhlldh'il, h CIEl-lflddll, ILLINOIS, ASSICtllltllt lfll @NWlElIl nrcnzsnnu, 'lJF CHICAGO, lLlilll l'tllltd.

a e n.

"WAEIHINGFMAUHINE.

1 n gt a hold a tllpecillcation 0t Letters Patent,

Patented :1, teen transition the y 29,4920. Serial Tito. aerate.

to relates more particularly to power operated" washing machines.

'llhe general object of my invention is to provide a washing machine construction that can be used with an ordinary wash tub, e. e.

in in which-a wash tub shall form a part of the complete apparatus.

lltnother object oi my invention is to pro vide washing machine construction which shall greatly facilitate the operation of as transferring the clothes train the tub in which the clothes are washed to the tub or place oi rinsing; v Another object cl my invention is to provide a washing machine construction which' as shall be relatively light in weight, yet of durable form; which shall be low in cost;

and which shall generally be adapted to per-' form the washing operation in a quick, safe, and satisfactory manner.

to lt is also an objectol my invention to provide a washing machine'construction, the various parts of which can be quickly and easily assembled and disassembled as required during the washing of several batches oil clothes, and as may be necessary for shipping, storing or other periods when the-apparatus is not in use.

My invention consists generally in the form, arrangement, construction and coopto eration of the parts whereby the abovenamed objects, together with others that Wlll appear hereinafter, are attainable; and my invention will be more readily understood by reference to the accompanying drawings which illustrate what I consider, at the presout time, to be the preferred embodiment thereof, In said drawings Figure l, is a view partly in section and partly in elevation of a washing machine construction embodying my invention; and Fig. is a detail view substantially on the line 2-2 of Fig. l. i

l have shown in the drawings my apparatus as embodying therein a wooden wash tub 2 but this, it should in understood, is by way of illustration and not by way ct limitation for it is obviousthat instead oi using a wooden tub the usual galvanised iron tub may be used. all

The tub 2, is a wash tub such as "is cornmonly used wherever the socalled station ary washing tubs are not available. l or washing purposes it is customary to provide several of these tubs, in one of which the es cleansing of the clothes by agitation in soapy water talrw place, alter which the are transferred, usually by means oi: a clothes stick, toanother tub containing the rinse water. The transferring of the clothes lroin "it the tub in which the clothes are washed to the. other tub is usually done piece by piece because the water used is generally too hot l'pr the hands. The washing and transfer ring of clothes by hand in this manner is a it slow, laborious and tedious task. At the same time, rubbing the clothes on the wash board, generally used in conjunction with such tubs, results in the rapid destruction ol the clothes and particularly of the liner and so more delicate pieces. Notwithstanding the rnany objections inherent in Washing clothes 1n this manner, the great expense and cumbersome character of washing machines heretofore provided has limited their use to at those persons who have more than a moderate income, and who have adequate laundry space and facilities.

I have devised a construction which, if desired, can be employed in conjunction with so such portable tubs of which the tub 2 is an example and which can be used in a kitchen or other place not provided solely for washing purposes. To this end, l prefer to pro vide a clothes container which tits within the tub 2. Asher-e shown, this clothes container is composed of upper and lower rings or hands 3, and d, between which extend a pluralit'y of spaced rods or bars 5. The bars, 5,

are preferably of wood although they may we be of other material. The ends of the rods 3, it will be observed, are firmly secured in the bands or rings 3 and d. The bottom of th'cclothes container is closed by means of a grid 7 which, in the present instance, takes the form of a wire mesh that is suitabl secured to the lower ring or band 5 as y means of the clam ing ring 8. The clothes container vis pre erably of a size slightly smaller than the tub so that an inter- I vening space 9 is provided. It will be understood that water and soap are placed in the tub 2 and that the clothes to be washed are placed in the clothes container. In order that the clothes may be very quickly, thoroughly and completely cleansed, I provide power mechanism for a 'tatin the clothes.

his may assume di erent orms, but I prefer to provide the simple dolly type of agitating element as indicated at 9. The dolly 9 is suspended on a shaft 10 which shaft is provided with a bevel gear 11 at its upper end. The bevel gear 11, 1t will be observed, is on the upper side of the' base plate 12 of the motor 13 so that this revents the shaft 1-0 and'the dolly from alling. The

, motor 13, as here shown, is an electric motor preferably provided with electric contacts, as at 14, to which an electric plug can be readily secured and from which it can be very readily removed. The armature shaft 15 is extended outwardly at one end and thereon 'is secured a worm 16 which in turn meshes with a worm wheel 17 that is journaled on the shaft 18. The shaft 18, in turn, is carried in bearings provided in the easing 19 of the motor. On the shaft 18 I mount a crank or arm 20, which through the medium of the arm 21.and rod 22 is operatively connected to the segment lever 23.

- The arm 21 is pivotally connected to the lever 23 as at 24, and the lever 23 is pivotally connected to the motor frame or casing as indicated at 25. Thus, it becomes obvious that high speed rotary movement of the motor is converted into relatively low speed swinging or reciprocatory movement in the segment lever 23 b virtue of the worm gearing and the otlier parts mentioned. The lower end of the lever 23 is provided with a gear rack or segment as indicated at 26 which, in turn, meshes with the bevel gear 11,-

carried by the shaft 10. Hence, continuous rotation of the motor finally results in driving and reversing the rotary movement of the doll by which the clothes are thoroughly agitate and quickly cleansed.

As here shown, the motor, gearing, and connected parts are mounted upon a cover member 27 which is of a size sufficient to span the tub, 2. Iprefer to dish this cover upwardly in order to give strength and stability thereto and form a rigid support for the motor. If desired, the central part of the cover may be reversely dished or formed as indicated at 28 better to prevent the water from splashing upon the bearing of the shaft 10 and to permit lubrication thereof without danger of getting grease into the water compartment. As here shown, the cover does not rest directly upon the upper edge of the tub 2 but instead rests upon the upper band or ring 3 of the clothes container. The band or ring 3 is provided with an inwardly extending portion 3' and for co-action therewith I place.

have provided two handle members 29 which carr stem portions free to rotate in the brac et or bearing members 30 that are secured to the cover 27. The lower ends of the handles are provided with extendin finger or latch portlons 31. Thus when the andles 29 are turned to the position shown in Fig. 1 the fingers or latches 31 engage the underside of the latch or extension 3' of the ring or band 3 and thus firml secure the cover to the clothes container. ince the clothes container, in operation, is loaded with a batch of clothes the weight thereof will be sufficient to hold it properly in place on the tub 2. In any event, the parts may be fitted sufiiciently close to prevent objectionable movement.

After the batch of clothes has been properly washed the handles 29 are turned to free the latch portions 31 from the ring portion 3 at which time the cover and all parts supported thereby, to wit, motor gearing and dolly may be lifted bodily away from the tub and clothes container. Thereafter the entire clothes container, if desired, can be bodily lifted from the tub 2 and carried to the tub containing the rinse water and all of the clothes dumped therein. Of course, if desired, the clothes may be removed from the container to the rinse water in the ordinary manner" as by means of clothes stick. So soon as the clothes have been removed a new batch can be placed in the clothes container and the cover member replaced and locked by turning the handles 29.

After the washing has been completed the various parts can be easily and qulckly disassembled and stored in any! convenient This feature makes feasible the washing in the kitchen or other place where power washing machines of the type heretofore provided could not be used.

The 'apparatuswhich I have designed is light in construction, of durable form, and is one which can be produced at very low cost. Inasmuch as the ordinary wash tub may be used as a part of the apparatus it reduces the total cost of the machine to such a modest sum that, it is within the reach of all. i

I claim: I I

1. A washing machine comprising a clothes container adapted to be placed within a wash tub, a cover member adapted to span the wash tub and form a closure therefor and for the clothes container,,a clothes agitating element depending from the cover and extending through an opening in the depression thereof, operating mechanism for the a 'tating element mounted upon the cover an means for detachably connecting said cover and said clothes container.

2. A washing machine construction embodyin therein a clothes container adapted to be p weed within a wash tub, a ring memcover member adapted to span the tub and supported on the'ring member of the clothes container, operating mechanism supported on the cover and means carried by the cover for detachably engaging the ring member to secure the cover in position.

3. In a washing machine, a tub, a clothes container adapted to be placed within the.

tub, said clothes container being provided at its upper end with a ring member which engages the rim of the tub, a convexed cover member adapted to span the wash tub and form a closure therefor, an agitator depending from the cover member and extending through an opening in the depression, operating mechanism supported on the cover for actuating the agitator and means carried by the cover fordetachablyengaging the ring member of the clothes contamer to secure the cover and its operating mechanism in place. i

4. In a washing machine,'a tub, a clothes container adapted to be placed within the tub, a cover member adapted to span the tub said. cover member being convexed upwardly from near its circumference and being reversely dished near the center thereof to form a depression provided with an opening, an a 'tator shaft depending from the cover an extending through the opening in the depression and operating mechanism supported on the cover over the depression.

In testimony whereof, I have hereunto 3 set my hand, this 21st day of May, 1920.

i FRANK BRUEGGEMAN. 

